Russian army delivers more than 1,000 pieces of equipment in Donbas – NATO Commander

Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, General Philip Breedlove says that Alliance Intelligence has convincing evidence of Russia's weapon deliveries to the separatists back in the early stages of the conflict.

Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, said that during the conflict in the Donbas more than a thousand units of Russian military equipment had been sent to the territory of Ukraine.

The General says that now intelligence service has convincing evidence. Also there are facts proving that the Russian artillery crossed the border of eastern Ukraine back in the early stages of the conflict.

"Compared to just one year ago, Europe faces a very different and much more challenging security environment. We have concerns that a resurgent Russia is exercising power and influence, not only in neighboring countries, but also in the region more broadly and around the world. The challenge is global, not regional, and enduring, not temporary," Breedlove said.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stotenberg said the military bloc had "documentary evidence" of Russia's military presence in the east of Ukraine.

According to the General Secretary, the militants in the Donbas could not have achieved so much, if not for the support of Russia.

Stoltenberg also added that the OSCE had collected data on military equipment in the Donbas, and, besides, militants had sophisticated weapons systems maintenance of which requires military experts.